I'll give you a little break.

From the Black and White cards that is.
When I first saw the Sympathy challenge over at LNS, I didn't immediately go to the black and white cards. I first thought about butterflies. Don't ask me why, that's just the way my mind works. Anyway, I wanted to make a card using Three Little Words, so I chose the "So Very Sorry" and made this card. Luckily I had several willing critiquers of my creation. When they looked at it, they all said it was too bright and cheerful to be a sympathy card. Personally I don't think so, besides most of them are men...what do they know? So, before I posted it on LNS for the challenge I thought I would ask you. Do you think this qualifies as a Sympathy card?

Are you sick of them yet?

I hope not, cause here is another one. This one uses a hat pin from the Pretties Kit. I admit it, I never know what to do with those pins.....Luckily Andrea Walford put one on a card she made, and I loved the way it looked. So....I completely stole the idea from her. Thanks Andrea for giving so freely of your time and talent so those of us "less creative types" can CASE you!

A Black and White Card for the LNS Challenge

Ok, I know, I'm still stuck on the black and white cards, but at least I had a good reason for posting this one. This week on Late Night Stampers our challenge is to create a sympathy card. Well, what better colors for sympathy than black and white? So, it fits right into my color scheme of the week! I did add a little bit of color by using the pefect plum on the flowers. I love the "lace" look on the bottom of the card, but I will admit, it's much harder to do than it looks!

More Black and White Cards

Ok, you have to admit they are kind of cool right? I think part of the reason I like them so well is because I have always thought black and white together are classy looking. They remind me of Tuxedos. Not only that, but the black cards mean that I get to write on them using my white gel pen.....one of my favorite things to do!

I can't get it out of my head!!!!!

Remember the Black and White Birthday card I showed you last week? Well, I can't get the color combination out of my head. I've been creating black and white cards like crazy. I think I am going to have to blame Andrea Walford for this! So, sorry, but you are stuck looking at my "generic" (my daughter's term....she says they remind her of bar codes) cards for the next few day. Sorry, I had to get it out of my system!

It's another Funky Friday in 3D

The Funky Friday challenge this week was to make something 3D. Sounds kinda like the LNS challenge doesn't it? I love it when things work out like that....one project, two challenges. Don't worry though, I made something new. Luckily this 3D project came just in time. My son wanted a bunny basket for his friends at school, so I needed to get them made before next Friday. The original project comes from Inky Chatter. Martha Beck made this basket way back in 2008. Jay and I were blog hopping together and he saw this basket. Needless to say, nothing else I showed him was good enough, so this basket is the one we made. I do have to say, after making 20 of these.....I'll be glad if I never have to make another punch bunny again! It did turn out cute though, even if I do say so myself!

This is my favorite color combination.

These are all four color combinations. Yes, I know I used retired DSP, but I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more until I used up some of what I had.

This is what all 20 baskets look like in a box. All I can say is WHEW!!!

It's Your Birthday....Nunununu

Ok, maybe it isn't your birthday....but it is my Mom's! My mom and I haven't always gotten along. We are too much alike! When I was younger, it always seemed to be World War III in our household. It's amazing how much smarter my Mom got after I had a child of my own :) (Ok maybe it was me who got a little smarter!). Now all those crazy rules, like no dating until your 16, doing homework as soon as you get home from school, No phone calls after 8pm, no singing at the dinner table, and no fighting with your brother in the car, make so much more sense to me! My Mom is an amazing mother, and thanks to her, I am who I am today. She taught me so many important things about being a good mom, a good wife, and a good person!


1. She was always willing to let us participate in as many after school activities as we wanted, even though it meant she had to play taxi for years. Her willingness to sacrifice her time to drive me to events taught me how important it is to be well rounded.

2. Her constant correction of my grammer and puctuation errors (she used to be an English teacher) made it possible for me to write and speak correctly. I wouldn't have the career I have if she hadn't taken the time to teach me.

3. Her love of church, and her belief in Christianity taught me right from wrong and that there is a reason for everything. These beliefs have gotten me through some really tough times.

4. Her volunteerism and support of the local community taught me that some of the most important jobs in life don't involve a paycheck.

5. Her willingness to help her friends, no matter what the circumstance, taught me the importance of having them, and have helped me deal with move after move in the military community.

6. Her strength, especially after dealing with cancer twice, has taught me how to cope with adversity.

7. Her marriage to my dad, for almost 50 years, has shown me that true love is worth fighting for, no matter what!

8. Her love of reading, and her willingness to share that love with me, has provided me with the opportunity to share that love with my kids, both of which are just as likely to be upstairs with their noses in a book as to be playing a video game or watching tv.

9. Her acceptance of me, no matter what stupid stunt I had pulled, showed me that parents have to have unconditional love for the kids. A lesson that I am still learning with my own.

10. Her involvment in my life, even now that we are an Ocean apart has shown me what the true meaning of family is. I can pick up the phone just about anytime and have a friendly (or sometimes stern if I need it) ear to listen to my problems and dispense advice.

My Mom is an absolutely amazing woman. When I was a teenager, I swore I wouldn't be anything like her. Now, I will consider myself fortunate if I can be half the woman that my Mom is!

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!!!

Oh yeah, one lesson that Mom tried to teach me and I still haven't quite gotten is to mail birthday cards and thank you notes. Sorry Mom, as usual I forgot. But, here is the card I meant to send you :)